Draft and buffing gear



July 31, 1934. WMDWYER 1,968,481

DRAFT AND BUFFING GEAR Origin a1 Filed Feb. 6, 1955 25 35 77 76 45 Inventor Willzam M Dwyer By W Patented July 31, 1934 DRAFT AND BUFFING GEAR William'M. Dwyer, Chicago,'lll., assignor to W.

H. Miner, Inc.,

Delaware Chicago, 111., a corporation of Application February 6, 1933, Serial 'No. 655,409

Renewed-April 14, 1934 18 Claims. (Cl. 213-9) This invention relates to improvements in -draft and buffing gears for mine cars;

One object of the invention is to provide a simple and effi ient combined draft and buffing gear for mine cars including a cushioning means for absorbing both the draft and bufiing shocks, wherein the cushioning means is in alignment with and compressed directly by a sliding bufiing head and the draft forces are transmitted to the cushioning means from a sliding draft member, located above the buffing head, by means so designed that tilting of the draft member is avoided. I Another object of the invention is to provide, in a gear of the character described in the preceding paragraph, cushioning means, the maximum compression of which is equal in buff and draft, and said cushioning means is compressed in one and the same direction in both bull and draft.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a combined draft and buffing gear of the character set forth, wherein greater shock absorbing capacity is had in buff than in draft through the use of additional cushioning means,

which is operative in buff only. 1

- Other objects of the'invention will more clearly -appearfrom the description andclaims hereinafter following. I 3

Inthe drawing, forming a part of this specification, Figure 1 is an end elevational view, partly broken away, of a mine car, illustrating my improvements in connection therewith. Figure 2'is a horizontal sectional view, correspond- 'ing substantially to the-line 2-2 of Figure 1. And Figures 3 and 4 are vertical sectional views, corresponding respectively to the lines 33 and 44 of Figure 1.

In said drawing; 10 designates the end portion of a mine'car, to :which my improved combined, draft and buffing gear is attached! My improved draft and bufiing gear comprises broadly a hous ing A; a bufiing head B; a'draft member C; 'a

yoke D; a lever E; a pair of springs FF; and

a second pair of springs G-G.

The housing A comprises a vertical wall 11, spaced side walls 1212 extending forwardly from the wall 11, and top and bottom walls 13 and 14. The wall 11 may'form an integral part 59 of the end sill of the car, which end'sill may also form'an integral part of theunderframe structure of the carer may comprise aseparate member secured-to said underframe' structure r The top wall 13 of the housing A isicen trally v oifset in a vertical direction'to provide a chamber 15, within which the draft member C is slidable. The central portion of thebottcm wall 14 of the housing A is slightly downwardly ofiset, as indicated at 16, to form a guideway for the bufiing head 3. As most clearly shown in Figures 2 and 3, each wall 13 and'14 of the housing A is provided with an outstanding transverse rib 1'7, which forms a limiting stop cooperating with the bufiing head B to restrict inward movement of the'la'tter. At opposite sides, the top and bottom walls 13 and 1 1 of the housing A have forwardly extending lugs 1818 and 18-18, which are provided with vertically aligned openings 19-19 and .19-19 adapted to accommodate rivet members 2020, which cooperate with the bufiing head B to limit outward movement of the same.

The buffing head B has a transverse vertical outer wall 21, which is relatively heavy and has a curved outer buffing surface 22 adapted to be engaged by the bu'fling headof an adjacent car, The buflinghead B has vertically disposed, spaced side walls 23'23 eflending rearwardly from the Wall 21. The side walls 23-23 are connected by spaced, horizontally extending top and bottom walls 24 and 25, which are preferably formed integral with the front Wall 21. The central portion of the bottom wall 25 of the buffing head B is downwardly offset, as indicated at 26 in Figure 1, so that the same will it within the guideway formed by the downwardly ,ofiset portion 16 of the bottomwall 14 of the housing A. The 'top wall 24 of the buffing head B is thickened at the middle portion, as clearly shown in Figure 3, and

is provided with a rounded bearing face 27 at its inner end. At opposite sides of the buflinghead B, the top and bottom walls 24 and 25 thereof are prQ ided with vertically a1igned slots.2828 and 23 f28 through which the rivets 2020 extend.

A's'willibe evident, ,the rivets 20 -2O thus hold the buiijng headB'assembled with the housing A and restrictv outward movement of the buffing head, with respect to the housing by engagement of the I rivets with the inner endwalls of the slots 28 28 of'said bufiing head. h The draft member C is slidably mounted within thehousingAabove the buffing head B, and.

comprises top and bottom arm s'29--29 connected by spaced, vertical side walls 30-30 at the inner end of said draft memberQ' At opposite sides, the member C has laterally projecting trunnions 31 31, which are formed on the vertical walls 30 30. At the forward ends, the arms 2929 are provided with vertically aligned openings 32- 32 adapted to receive the usual coupling pin '33. The

pin is headed at its upper end, as indicated at 34, and extends through longitudinal slots 35-35 in the top and bottom walls 24 and 25 of the buffing head B. The slotted arrangement of the buffing head permits inward movement of the buffing head with respect to the draft member C when a bufiing force is applied to said head.

The lever E is in the form of a casting having its upper end forked, thereby providing spaced arms 36-36. The arms 36-36 embrace the inner end of the draft member C and have bearing seats 37-37 therein accommodating the trunnions 31-31 of said draft member. The bearing seats 37-37 open rearwardly, as clearly shown in Figure 3, thereby permitting the ready assembling of the draft member C with the lever At the lower end, the lever E is provided with a central arm 38, which is of the contour shown most clearly in Figure 3. At the inner side, the bottom end portion of the arm 38 is provided with a vertical bearing surface 39, which terminates at its upper end in a rounded portion 40.

The yoke D is in the form of a casting having a top wall 41, a vertical front wall 42, a vertical rear wall 43, and spaced, longitudinally extending, vertical walls 44-44 and 44-44. The walls 44-44 are arranged in pairs at opposite sides of the yoke member D, and the outer walls of said pairs form side wall members of the casting. The inner walls 44-44 of said pairs form a guideway for the lower arm of the lever E. The yoke member D is also provided with a relatively short bottom wall 45 at the rear thereof connecting the innermost walls 44-44 and the vertical rear wall 43. Between the inner walls 44-44 at the rear end of the yoke member D, a fulcrum shoulder 46 is provided by an enlargement formed on the walls 43 and 45. The fulcrum shoulder 46 has a substantially vertical front face and a horizontal top surface connected by a rounded portion 47, which cooperates with the rounded portion 40 of the lower arm of the lever E. The bottom wall 45 projects forwardly beyond the shoulder 46 in overlapping relation with the bottom end of the lever E to prevent upward displacement of the yoke D.

The springs F-F are disposed within the yoke at opposite sides of the lever E and have their front and rear ends bearing respectively on the front wall 42 of the yoke D and on the vertical rear wall 11 of the housing A.

The springs G-G are arranged within the buffing head B at opposite sides of the yoke D and have their front and rear ends bearing respectively on the inner side of the front wall 21 of the bufiing head B and the forward side of the rear wall 11 of the housing A.

As clearly shown in Figure 3, the inner edge of the yoke D is normally spaced from the vertical rear wall 11 of the housing A so as to permit the necessary inward movement of the yoke D and the buffing head B during a buffing action of the gear. The inward movement of the bufiing head B is limited by engagement of the inner end of the yoke D with the rear wall. of the housing A. fhe parts are so proportioned that when the movement of the buifing head B is thus limited, the inner edge of the bottom wall of the buifing head will also engage the transverse ribs 17 of the walls 13 and 14 of the housing A. The yoke D also limits the outward movement of the draft member C, swinging movement of the lever E being stopped when movement of the yoke is arrested.

Ihe operation of my improved combined draf and buffing gear is as follows: When the bufling head 13 is forced inwardly toward the end of the car, the springs G-G are directly compressed against the rear wall of the housing A. At the same time, the yoke D is carried rearwardly, thereby also compressing the springs F-F against the rear wall of the housing. When the bufiing force is reduced, the expansive action of the springs F-F and G-G will return the parts to the normal position shown in the drawing. The outward movement of the buffing head B is limited by the stop rivets 20-20. During a draft action, the buffing head is held against outward movement by the rivets 20-20 and remains in the position shown in Figures 2 and 3. In draft, when a pulling force is applied to the member C through the medium of the usual coupling link and pin 33, the member C is moved outwardly away from the end of the car, rocking the lever E on the rounded fulcrum surface 27 of the buifing head B and causing the lower end of the lever to swing rearwardly, thereby, through engagement with the abutment shoulder 46 of the yoke D, forcing the yoke rearwardly or inwardly toward the end of the car and compressing the springs F-F.

As will be evident, the maximum compression of the springs F-F is the same in buff and draft because the compression thereof is in both cases effected by the inward movement of the yoke D, which is directly actuated by the bumng head B in buff and actuated through the lever E in draft. A decided advantage is obtained by employing the lever E to transmit the draft force from the member C to the springs, instead of having the draft member directly engaging the rear end of the springs as has been the common practice in this art, because angular tilting and binding of the draft member is thereby avoided.

I have herein shown and described what I now consider the preferred manner of carrying out my invention, but the same is merely illustrative and I contemplate all changes and modifications that come within the scope of the claims appended hereto.

I claim:

1. In a draft gear for mine cars, the combination with fixed abutment means on the end of the car; of cushioning means bearing on and compressible against said abutment means; a buffing head slidingly mounted on the end of the car and movable inwardly toward said end of the car in buff to compress the cushioning means against the fixed abutment means; a slidable draft member at the end of the car, said draft member being movable outwardly away from the car in draft; fulcrum means held against movement in draft; and lever means rockable on said fulcrum means for transmitting the draft force from said draft member to the cushioning means and compressing the latter against said fixed abutment means. 7

2. In a draft gear for mine cars, the combination with a bufifing head movable inwardly of the car when a buffing force is applied thereto; of a draft member movable outwardly away from the end of the car when a pulling force is applied thereto; a follower member; lever means fulcrumed on the buffing head for transmitting the pulling force from the draft member to said follower member and moving the latter inwardly "-1-? toward the end of the car; and cushioning means opposing inward movement of both the buffing head and said follower member.

3. In a draft gear for mine cars, the combination with fixed abutment means on the end of the car; of a supporting member; a bufling head slidable inwardly on the supporting member; cushioning means interposed between said head and abutment means opposing inward movement of the buffing head; a pulling member movable outwardly away from the end of the car in draft, said pulling member being movably mounted on said supporting member above the buffing head; and lever means fulcrumed on the buffing head for transmitting the draft force from said pulling member to the cushioning means to compress the latter against the fixed abutment means.

4. In a draft gear for mine cars, the combination with fixed abutment means on the end of the car; of a supporting member; a bufling head slidable inwardly on the supporting member; cushioning means interposed between said head and abutment means opposing inward movement of the buffing head; a pulling member movable outwardly away from the end of the car in draft, said pulling member being movably mounted on said supporting member above the bufiing head; and a lever fulcrumed between its ends on said bufiing head and having one end engaging the inner end of the pulling member and the other end cooperating with the cushioning means to compress the latter against the fixed abutment means.

5. In a draft gear for mine cars, the combination with fixed abutment means on the end of the car; of a supporting member; a buffing head slidable inwardly on the supporting member; cushioning means interposed between said head and abutment means opposing inward movement of the buinng head; a pulling member movable outwardly away from the end of the car in draft, said pulling member being movably mounted on said supporting member above the buffing head; a follower bearing on the outer end of said cushioning means; and a lever fulcrumed between its ends on said buiiing head and having one end pivoted to the inner end of the pulling member and the other end in rocking engagement with said followerto force the latter inwardly against the cushioning means in draft. 7

6. In a draft gear for mine cars, the combination with fixed abutment means at the end of the car; of a supporting structure at said end of the car; a yoke slidable on said supporting structure toward and away from said abutment means; cushioning means bearing at opposite ends on said yoke and fixed abutment means; a buffing head slidable on said supporting structure and bearing on the forward end of the yoke; a draft member slidable on said supporting structure, said draft member being pulled outwardly away from the end of the car during a draft action; and means for transmitting the pulling force from said draft member to the yoke to move the latter inwardly toward the fixed abutment means to compress the cushioning means.

7. In a draft gear for mine cars, the combination with fixed abutment means at the end of the car; of a supporting structure at said end of the car; a yoke slidable on said supporting structure toward and away from said abutment means; cushioning means bearing at opposite ends on said yoke and fixed abutment means; a bufling head slidable on said supporting structure and bearing on the forward end'of the yoke; a slidable draft member movably mounted on said supporting structure above the buffing head; and lever means fulcrumed between its ends and having its upper end pivoted to said draft member, the other end of said lever having rocking engagement with the yoke to force the same inwardly in draft.

8. In a draft gear for mine cars, the combination with a housing fixed to the end of the car, said housing having an inner wall forming a spring abutment; of a yoke member having a transverse front wall; a bearing shoulder at the inner end of said yoke member; a shock absorbing spring interposed between said front wall of the yoke and said spring abutment of the housing, with the front and rear ends of said shock absorbing spring bearing on said front wall and abutment respectively; a buffing head supported by said housing and bearing on the front end of the yoke member, said buffing head having a bearing shoulder thereon; a draft member slidingly supported on said housing above the buffing head; a lever fulcrumed between its ends on said shoulder of the builing head, said lever having its upper end pivoted to the draft member and having its lower end in rocking engagement with the shoulder of the yoke member; and means for holding said buffing head against outward movement in draft.

9. In a draft gear for mine cars, the combination with a housing fixed to the end of the car, said housing having an inner wall forming a spring abutment; of a yoke member having a transverse front wall; a bearing shoulder at the inner end of said yoke member; a shock absorbing spring interposed between said front wall of the yoke member and said spring abutment of the housing, with the front and rear ends of said shock absorbing spring bearing on said front wall and abutment respectively; a buffing head supported by said housin' and bearing on the front end of the yoke member, said bufling head having a bearing shoulder thereon; a draft member slidingly supported on said housing above the buffing head; a lever fulcrumed between its ends on said shoulder of the bufiing head, said lever having its upper end pivoted to the draft member and having its lower end in rocking engagement with the shoulder of the yoke member; means for holding said buffing head against outward movement in draft; and spring shock absorbing means within said housing at opposite sides of the yoke member, said spring shock absorbing means bearing respectively at opposite ends on the inner side of the bumng head and the spring abutment of the housing.

10. In a combined draft and buffing gear for cars, the combination with a bufiing head movable inwardly of the car when a buffing force is applied thereto; of means for holding said buffing head against movement in draft; cushioning means yieldingly opposing inward movement of the buffing head; and a lever fulcrumed on the bufiing head for transmitting draft forces to said cushioning means, said lever receiving the pulling force in a draft action at a point removed from said fulcrum.

11. In a combined draft and bufling gear for cars, the combination with a buffing head movable inwardly of the car when a bufling force is applied thereto; of cushioning means yieldingly opposing inward movement of the buffing head; a yoke engaging the cushioning means; and a lever pivoted on the buiiing head, for swinging movement about said pivot point, the swingable ing draft action to move the yoke lengthwise oi the car to compress said cushioning means.

12. In a combined draft and buffing gear for cars, the combination with a buffing head movable inwardly of the car when a bufling force is applied thereto; of a lever fulcrumed between its ends on a pivot means which is held against movement with respect to the car during a draft action; a pulling element engaged with one end of the lever, said. element being movable outwardly with respect to the bufiing head for actuating the lever in draft; and cushioning means yieldingly opposing inward movement of the buffing head the other end of said lever.

13. In a combined draft and buffing gear for cars, the combination with a buffing head movable inwardly of the car when a buifing force is applied thereto; of means for holding said bumng head against outward movement in draft; cush ioning means yieldingly opposing inward inovement of the buffing head; a lever pivoted on the bufiing head to swilg thereon about said pivot for compressing said cushioning means, the swingable end portion of said lever receiving the pull in draft to move away from the end of the applied thereto; of cushioning means yieldingly opposing inward movementof the buffing head; means for holding said buffing head against movement in draft; a vertically disposed lever; said lever being connected at its upper end to a pulling element which is actuated in draft, lever being pivoted for swinging movement on the buffing head at a point below said connection of the lever with the pulling element; and means actuated by said lever for compressing cushioning means in draft.

15. In a combined draft and buffing gear for cars, the combination with fixed supporting means on the end of the car; of a hurling member slidable inwardly on the supporting means; means 45 ;for holding said buffing head against movement outwardly away from the end of the car in draft; and lever means for transmitting the draft force from said pulling m mber to the cushioning means to compress the latter, said lever being fulcrumed on the buffing head and directly connected to the pulling member at a point on said lever remote from the fulcrum.

16. In a combined draft and buffing gear for cars, the combination with a supporting structure at said end of the car; of a yoke slidable lengthwise of the car; a buffing head slidable inwardly on said supporting structure; means for holding said buffing head against outward movement in draft; cushioning means opposing movement of the head in but; and the yoke in draft; and a lever fulcrumed on the buiiing head at a point remote from one end of the lever, said lever at still another point remote from said end having an operative connection with the yoke for actuating the yoke to compress the cushioning means when said end of the lever is pulled outwardly away from th car in draft.

1'2. In a combined draft and buifing gear, the combination with a buffing structure including a supportmg member, a bufring head movable inwardly with respect thereto, and cushioning means opposing inward movement of said head; of a lever for compressing said cushioning means in draft, said lever being fulcrumed between its ends on said structure, the fulcrum of said lever being held against displacement during said draft action of the gear; and a pulling element movable outwardly with respect to the bumng head, said pulling element being connected to one end of the lever to swing said end of the lever outwardly in draft.

is. In a combined draft and bufiing gear for the combination with a buffing head movable inwardly of the car when a buffing force is applied thereto; of means for holding said buffing head against outward movement in draft; a lever pivoted between its ends to swing about a fixed during draft action of the gear, one end of lever re eiving the pulling force during draft; and cushioning means yieldingly resisting swinging movement of said lever and inward movement of said buffing head.

WILLIAM lvl. DWYER. 

